Method for common usage of mobile switching center (MSC)

• US 6,266,526 B1
• Filed: 12/31/1998
• Issued: 07/24/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: LG-Ericsson Company Limited (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Original Assignee: LG Information & Communications Ltd. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Kim, Young Joon
• Primary Examiner(s): CUMMING, WILLIAM D
• Application Number:
  US09/223,912
• Time in Patent Office: 936 Days
• Field of Search: 455/411, 455/518, 455/456, 379/265, 370/441
• US Class Current: 455/411
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2044 Group features, e.g. closed user group
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/22 Automatic class or number identification arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42102 Making use of the called party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/04 Registration at HLR or HSS [Home Subscriber Server]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/06 Registration at serving network Location Register, VLR or user mobility server

Abstract

A method for using a mobile switching center (MSC) having a large capacity, particularly a method for using a MSC such that many service providers can use the MSC in common, comprises confirming a caller group to which a corresponding caller belongs by checking a number when a call is initiated from the caller, receiving a called number, authenticating and authorizing the caller, and processing the caller and the call according to the caller group to which the caller belongs. When the authentication and authorization succeed, the process searches for a predefined greeting announcement for the particular caller group and, if one is found, connects the predefined greeting announcement to the caller. The process also determines according to the caller group whether a certain trunk should be used and, if so, connects the call to that trunk. If the authentication failed or authorization is denied caller, the method determines a authentication failed/authorization denied subscriber processing procedure corresponding to the caller group, and carrying out an operation according to the processing procedure. Also, the process may determine a charging format and desired statistical item(s) according to the corresponding caller group if a caller belongs to a caller group which desires to use a certain charging format and/or a statistical item(s).

Claims

1. A method of using a mobile switching center in common among a plurality of service providers, comprising:

receiving a call initiated from a mobile subscriber;

determining a caller group associated with the mobile subscriber,

receiving a called number from the mobile subscriber;

performing authentication and authorization processes for the mobile subscriber; and

processing services for the mobile subscriber within the mobile switching center according to processing information corresponding to the caller group;

wherein, when the mobile subscriber is authenticated and authorized, processing services for the mobile subscriber comprises;

determining according to the caller group whether a designated greeting announcement is required;

when the designated greeting announcement is required, supplying the designated greeting announcement to the mobile subscriber;

determining a particular trunk to which the call is to be routed; and

routing the call to the particular trunk;

wherein determining whether the designated greeting announcement is required comprises searching an announcement search table according to the caller number; and

wherein the announcement search table comprises a pluralities of entries, each entry having a caller group number and a corresponding indication of whether to supply a corresponding greeting announcement.

2. A method of using a mobile switching center in common among a plurality of service providers, comprising:

receiving a call initiated from a mobile subscriber;

determining a caller group associated with the mobile subscriber,

receiving a called number from the mobile subscriber;

performing authentication and authorization processes for the mobile subscriber; and

processing services for the mobile subscriber within the mobile switching center according to processing information corresponding to the caller group;

wherein, when the mobile subscriber is authenticated and authorized, processing services for the mobile subscriber comprises;

determining according to the caller group whether a designated greeting announcement is required;

when the designated greeting announcement is required, supplying the designated greeting announcement to the mobile subscriber;

determining a particular trunk to which the call is to be routed; and

routing the call to the particular trunk;

wherein determining the particular trunk to which the call is to be routed comprises determining according to the caller group whether to unconditionally route the call to a designated trunk regardless of the called number;

wherein determining whether to unconditionally route the call to the designated trunk regardless of the called number comprises searching an outgoing route search table according to the caller group; and

wherein the outgoing route search table comprises a plurality of entries, each entry having a caller group number and an indication of whether to unconditionally route the call to a corresponding trunk.

3. A method of using a mobile switching center in common among a plurality of service providers, comprising:

receiving a call initiated from a mobile subscriber;

determining a caller group associated with the mobile subscriber, receiving a called number from the mobile subscriber;

performing authentication and authorization processes for the mobile subscriber; and

processing services for the mobile subscriber within the mobile switching center according to processing information corresponding to the caller group;

wherein, when the mobile subscriber is authenticated and authorized, processing services for the mobile subscriber comprises;

determining according to the caller group whether a designated greeting announcement is required;

when the designated greeting announcement is required, supplying the designated greeting announcement to the mobile subscriber;

determining a particular trunk to which the call is to be routed; and

routing the call to the particular trunk;

wherein determining the particular trunk to which the call is to be routed comprises searching a called-number outgoing routine search table according to the caller group and the called number; and

wherein the called-number outgoing routine search table comprises a plurality of entries, each having a caller group number, a called number indicator corresponding to at least one possible called number, an indication of whether a certain trunk is to be used, and a corresponding outgoing route number for the certain trunk.

4. A method of using a mobile switching center in common among a plurality of service providers, comprising:

receiving a call initiated from a mobile subscriber;

determining a caller group associated with the mobile subscriber,

receiving a called number from the mobile subscriber;

performing authentication and authorization processes for the mobile subscriber; and

processing services for the mobile subscriber within the mobile switching center according to processing information corresponding to the caller group;

wherein, when the mobile subscriber is authenticated and authorized, processing services for the mobile subscriber comprises;

determining according to the caller group whether a designated greeting announcement is required;

when the designated greeting announcement is required, supplying the designated greeting announcement to the mobile subscriber;

determining a particular trunk to which the call is to be routed; and

routing the call to the particular trunk;

wherein when the mobile subscriber is authenticated and authorized, processing services for the mobile subscriber comprises processing the call by one selected from a group consisting of connecting the call with a local termination, connecting the call with a designated number for the caller group, and connecting the call with a certain trunk determined according to the caller group and the called number; and

wherein connecting the call with a designated number for the caller group comprises;

searching a customer information center search table according to the caller group to determine a designated customer information center, and

connecting the subscriber with the designated customer information center.

5. A method of using a mobile switching center in common among a plurality of service providers, comprising:

receiving a call initiated from a mobile subscriber;

determining a caller group associated with the mobile subscriber,

receiving a called number from the mobile subscriber;

performing authentication and authorization processes for the mobile subscriber; and

processing services for the mobile subscriber within the mobile switching center according to processing information corresponding to the caller group;

wherein, when the mobile subscriber is authenticated and authorized, processing services for the mobile subscriber comprises;

determining according to the caller group whether a designated greeting announcement is required;

when the designated greeting announcement is required, supplying the designated greeting announcement to the mobile subscriber;

determining a particular trunk to which the call is to be routed; and

routing the call to the particular trunk;

the method further comprising;

processing charging and statistics for the call within the mobile switching center according to charging information and statistics corresponding to the caller group;

wherein processing charging and statistics for the call comprises searching a maintenance and administration function search table according to the caller group to determine a charging format and desired statistic items; and

wherein the maintenance and administration function search table comprises a plurality of entries, each entry having a caller group number, a charging format, desired statistic items data, additional service data, and call failure processing data.

6. A method of using a mobile switching center in common among a plurality of service providers, comprising:

receiving a call initiated from a mobile subscriber;

determining a caller group associated with the mobile subscriber,

receiving a called number from the mobile subscriber;

performing authentication and authorization processes for the mobile subscriber; and

processing services for the mobile subscriber within the mobile switching center according to processing information corresponding to the caller group;

wherein, when the mobile subscriber is authenticated and authorized, processing services for the mobile subscriber comprises;

determining according to the caller group whether a designated greeting announcement is required;

when the designated greeting announcement is required, supplying the designated greeting announcement to the mobile subscriber;

determining a particular trunk to which the call is to be routed; and

routing the call to the particular trunk;

wherein, when the mobile subscriber is not authenticated and authorized, processing services for the mobile subscriber comprises;

searching an authentication-failed/authorization-denied processing procedure search table according to the caller group to determine a corresponding authentication-failed/authorization-denied subscriber processing procedure; and

executing the corresponding authentication-failed/authorization-denied subscriber processing procedure;

wherein executing the corresponding authentication-failed/authorization-denied subscriber processing procedure comprises;

determining according to the caller group whether a default group announcement is required; and

when the default group announcement is required, supply the default group announcement to the mobile subscriber.

7. A method of using a mobile switching center in common among a plurality of service providers, comprising:

receiving a call initiated from a mobile subscriber;

determining a caller group associated with the mobile subscriber,

receiving a called number from the mobile subscriber;

performing authentication and authorization processes for the mobile subscriber; and

processing services for the mobile subscriber within the mobile switching center according to processing information corresponding to the caller group;

wherein, when the mobile subscriber is authenticated and authorized, processing services for the mobile subscriber comprises;

determining according to the caller group whether a designated greeting announcement is required;

when the designated greeting announcement is required, supplying the designated greeting announcement to the mobile subscriber;

determining a particular trunk to which the call is to be routed; and

routing the call to the particular trunk;

wherein, when the mobile subscriber is not authenticated and authorized, processing services for the mobile subscriber comprises;

searching an authentication-failed/authorization-denied processing procedure search table according to the caller group to determine a corresponding authentication-failed/authorization-denied subscriber processing procedure; and

executing the corresponding authentication-failed/authorization-denied subscriber processing procedure;

wherein, the authentication-failed/authorization-denied processing procedure search table comprises a plurality of entries, each entry having a caller group number, a processing type, a group announcement type, a hot-line number, and an indication whether the call should be processed as a failed call.

8. A method of using a mobile switching center in common among a plurality of service providers, comprising:

receiving a call initiated from a mobile subscriber;

determining a caller group associated with the mobile subscriber,

receiving a called number from the mobile subscriber;

performing authentication and authorization processes for the mobile subscriber; and

processing services for the mobile subscriber within the mobile switching center according to processing information corresponding to the caller group;

wherein, when the mobile subscriber is authenticated and authorized, processing services for the mobile subscriber comprises;

determining according to the caller group whether a designated greeting announcement is required;

when the designated greeting announcement is required, supplying the designated greeting announcement to the mobile subscriber;

determining a particular trunk to which the call is to be routed; and

routing the call to the particular trunk;

wherein when the mobile subscriber is authenticated and authorized, processing services for the mobile subscriber comprises processing the call by one selected from a group consisting of connecting the call with a local termination, connecting the call with a designated number for the caller group, and connecting the call with a certain trunk determined according to the caller group and the called number;

wherein connecting the call with a designated number for the caller group comprises;

searching a customer information center search table according to the caller group to determine a designated customer information center, and

connecting the subscriber with the designated customer information center.

9. A method of using a mobile switching center in common among a plurality of service providers, comprising:

receiving a call initiated from a mobile subscriber;

determining a caller group associated with the mobile subscriber,

receiving a called number from the mobile subscriber;

performing authentication and authorization processes for the mobile subscriber; and

processing services for the mobile subscriber within the mobile switching center according to processing information corresponding to the caller group;

wherein, when the mobile subscriber is authenticated and authorized, processing services for the mobile subscriber comprises;

determining according to the caller group whether a designated greeting announcement is required;

when the designated greeting announcement is required, supplying the designated greeting announcement to the mobile subscriber;

determining a particular trunk to which the call is to be routed; and

routing the call to the particular trunk;

the method further comprising;

processing charging and statistics for the call within the mobile switching center according to charging information and statistics corresponding to the caller group;

wherein processing charging and statistics for the call comprises searching a maintenance and administration function search table according to the caller group to determine a charging format and desired statistic items; and

wherein the maintenance and administration function search table comprises a plurality of entries, each entry having a caller group number, a charging format, desired statistic items data, additional service data, and call failure processing data.

10. A method of using a mobile switching center in common among a plurality of service providers, comprising:

receiving a call initiated from a mobile subscriber,

determining a caller group associated with the mobile subscriber;

receiving a called number from the mobile subscriber;

performing authentication and authorization processes for the mobile subscriber; and

processing services for the mobile subscriber within the mobile switching center according to processing information corresponding to the caller group;

wherein, when the mobile subscriber is not authenticated and authorized, processing services for the mobile subscriber comprises;

searching an authentication-failed/authorization-denied processing procedure search table according to the caller group to determine a corresponding authentication-failed/authorization-denied subscriber processing procedure; and

executing the corresponding authentication-failed/authorization-denied subscriber processing procedure;

wherein executing the corresponding authentication-failed/authorization-denied subscriber processing procedure comprises;

determining according to the caller group whether a corresponding group announcement is required; and

when the corresponding group announcement is required, supplying the corresponding group announcement to the mobile subscriber.

11. A method of using a mobile switching center in common among a plurality of service providers, comprising:

receiving a call initiated from a mobile subscriber;

determining a caller group associated with the mobile subscriber;

receiving a called number from the mobile subscriber;

performing authentication and authorization processes for the mobile subscriber; and

processing services for the mobile subscriber within the mobile switching center according to processing information corresponding to the caller group;

wherein, when the mobile subscriber is not authenticated and authorized, processing services for the mobile subscriber comprises;

searching an authentication-failed/authorization-denied processing procedure search table according to the caller group to determine a corresponding authentication-failedlauthorization-denied subscriber processing procedure; and

executing the corresponding authentication-failed/authorization-denied subscriber processing procedure;

wherein executing the corresponding authentication-failed/authorization-denied subscriber processing procedure comprises;

determining according to the caller group whether a default group announcement is required; and

when the default group announcement is required, supplying the default group announcement to the mobile subscriber.

12. A method of using a mobile switching center in common among a plurality of service providers, comprising:

receiving a call initiated from a mobile subscriber;

determining a caller group associated with the mobile subscriber;

receiving a called number from the mobile subscriber;

performing authentication and authorization processes for the mobile subscriber; and

processing services for the mobile subscriber within the mobile switching center according to processing information corresponding to the caller group;

wherein, when the mobile subscriber is not authenticated and authorized, processing services for the mobile subscriber comprises;

searching an authentication-failed/authorization-denied processing procedure search table according to the caller group to determine a corresponding authentication-failed/authorization-denied subscriber processing procedure; and

executing the corresponding authentication-failed/authorization-denied subscriber processing procedure

wherein executing the corresponding authentication-failed/authorization-denied subscriber processing procedure comprises;

determining according to the caller group a corresponding hot-line number; and

connecting the mobile subscriber to the corresponding hot-line number.

13. A method of using a mobile switching center in common among a plurality of service providers, comprising:

receiving a call initiated from a mobile subscriber;

determining a caller group associated with the mobile subscriber;

receiving a called number from the mobile subscriber;

performing authentication and authorization processes for the mobile subscriber; and

processing services for the mobile subscriber within the mobile switching center according to processing information corresponding to the caller group;

wherein, when the mobile subscriber is not authenticated and authorized, processing services for the mobile subscriber comprises;

searching an authentication-failed/authorization-denied processing procedure search table according to the caller group to determine a corresponding authentication-failed/authorization-denied subscriber processing procedure; and

executing the corresponding authentication-failed/authorization-denied subscriber processing procedure;

wherein, the authentication-failed/authorization-denied processing procedure search table comprises a plurality of entries, each entry having a caller group number, a processing type, a group announcement type, a hot-line number, and an indication whether the call should be processed as a failed call.